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thinnings of these thriving plantations, including of course, the cutting 

 out of the place and park, as already stated. 



To those acquainted with the rapid progress made by the larch, on a 

 gravelly soil, on which any tolerable quantity of vegetable mould has 

 been aggregated, it is a fact well known, that it doubles its value every 

 three years, after fifteen years old, and every five years, after ilve-and- 

 twenty ; so that it was obvious, that in that ratio it must soon reach the 

 greatest size and value, which the soil and climate would admit. This 

 period has now nearly arrived ; and a valuation having been made of the 

 whole of the fir and larch wood on the estate, it amounted last year 

 (1826) to the surprising sum of 30,000/., putting little value on any other 

 species of wood ! ! ! Whatever is at its best, it is pretty clear, can admit 

 of no further improvement ; so that the judicious owner, as I am inform- 

 ed, has it now in contemplation to cut down the whole ; and, after taking 

 two crops of corn (which must be of the most abundant sort), to plant 

 the estate anew, in order to create a second fortune for his family ! 



I regret that I am not so much acquainted with the details, as to give 

 a comparative view of the expenditure, and the returns from the begin- 

 ning ; as it might prove interesting to those who are embarking, or who 

 may hereafter embark, in similar designs. But there is good ground to 

 believe, that arboricultural skill and perseverance were never more am- 

 ply or speedily rewarded, even during the lifetime of the planter, than 

 by this judicious, and most successful speculation. 



